Study Abroad Programs in Dunedin, New Zealand

The University of Otago was established in Dunedin in 1869, making it New Zealand's oldest university. With a focus on the traditional arts and sciences and approximately 22,000 students, the university offers a wide range of courses and student services – from 24-hour computer laboratories to recreational facilities – and more than 100 student clubs and societies. The campus setting is much like that of large universities in North America while still being close to town and providing an unbeatable location from which to explore New Zealand's South Island. Queenstown and the Southern Alps are only a few hours away, and the wildlife and beautiful landscapes of the nearby Otago Peninsula and surrounding region are easily accessible.

LIVE AND LEARN IN A FRIENDLY COLLEGE TOWN WITH A CASUAL VIBE Located near the country’s southern tip, Dunedin is a classic university town—one in five residents are college students. Heritage architecture (like the iconic railway station), natural beauty, and protected wildlife (hello, yellow-eye penguin) are plentiful. New Zealand’s oldest university is a top-ranked research institution with quality academics—professors regularly win awards for teaching excellence. Share a house with a Kiwi host and take advantage of amazing possibilities for outdoor adventure. Day outings and overnights get you out and about, learning the Māori concept of kaitiaki (taking care of the Earth) and exploring dramatic oceanside cliffs, rugged mountains, and unique creatures and plants.

With an estimated population of 106,200 as of June 2020, Dunedin is New Zealand's seventh-most populous urban area. However, for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons, the city has long been considered one of New Zealand's four main centers. The urban area of Dunedin lies on the central-eastern coast of Otago, surrounding the head of Otago Harbor, and the harbor and hills around Dunedin are the remnants of an extinct volcano. The city suburbs extend into the surrounding valleys and hills, onto the isthmus of the Otago Peninsula, and along the shores of the Otago Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. Dunedin features culture differently than most would expect bigger emphasis on literature and a large theater venue, the Regent Theater in the Octagon. Dunedin also has a notable visual arts scene with the Dunedin Public Art Gallery and a dozen other galleries throughout the Octagon. This Octagon is the city's center where business and culture come together.

University of Otago is the oldest university in New Zealand, and the only university in the country where 85% of the Kiwi students are from outside Dunedin. Most students are within a mile of the campus, creating a warm, socially vibrant student community. Everyone makes friends at Otago. Dunedin is perched near the end of the South Island with penguin colonies and seals on nearby shores. It is within easy reach of the Lord of the Rings scenery of Central Otago, which hikers and skiers much favor. Otago students take advantage of the plethora of courses in the sciences and humanities—from geology to exercise science to psychology and from philosophy to Māori studies to film and media. Many science courses use the environment around Otago as their laboratory and involve a field study component, creating opportunities to get out and experience the real New Zealand. Regardless of the courses you choose, you can expect to look at the world in new ways.